CHAPTER IN THE HISTORY OF OTAGO

Otago Witness, Issue 2298, 17 March 1898, Page 17

CHAPTER IN THE HISTORY OF OTAGO

from the pen of Mr. Tames Elder Brown shows the difficulties that had to be met with at that time :—: — To give some idea of the cost of living in the early days, the following are the average market prices for the years 1851-52-53, condensed from the Otago Witness: — 1851 — Flour, per iooft>, average 27/-, 20/- to 35/4 ft loaf, nd. to 1/2. Beef and mutton, sd. and 6d. ft>. 1852 — Flour, per 100 ft>, average 25/-, 18/- to 35/4 ft loaf, 9d. to 1/2. Beef and mutton, sd. to 6d. ft>. 1853 — Flour, per iooflb, average 34/-, 25/ to 40/4 ft loaf, 1/- to 1/3. Beef and mutton, sd. to 7d.

The foregoing table gives a view of Otago during a crucial period of her history — that between the retirement of the New Zealand Company in 1850 and the first meeting of Provincial Government on the 30th Dec, 1853. During these three jears there was every element to create stagnation. There was no proper system of land sales and no income to carry on any improvement in the shape of roads, bridges or other necessary works, and although all our goods coming in had to pay Customs duties, there was no corresponding outlay, except some miserable votes given as if it were conferring a favour to bestow them. The New Zealand Constitution, granting representative institutions, was passed by the British Parliament on 18th June, 1852, but through the unavoidable delay on account of the few opportunities of communication between the several parts of the colony, it took fully eighteen months before the Otago Provincial Government met.

The working man of the present day would scarcely believe that his predecessors could work for 3s. 6d. per day and pay from two to three times as much for every article of food, and far higher in proportion for clothing and tools, than he can now obtain them for. However, there cannot be the slightest doubt in the matter, as many are still amongst us who then made their savings, which gave them a start when land was to be got on fair terms, with a chance of the country being improved so that they could use and enjoy it. These small beginnings, husbanded with the hard-bought experience acquired — in many cases under great difficulties — culminated in their independence. The price of some of the products — especially wheat at Bs., and even 10s., per bushel — ma}' seem to those of the present day excessive, but they have to consider the changed state of the world since then. In Britain, notwithstanding the abolition of the Corn Laws, the price during the period named was at least 7s. per bushel, and it is to be taken into account that almost the whole grown here was on bush land, necessitating hand labour in every part of the process — from felling, burning off, chipping in, reaping with hooks and threshing with flails, and winnowing in the breeze. After the harvest of 1852 there was a constant supply of home-grown flour in the market, ground at the flour mill erected by Mr. Valpy on the Water of Leith. The prices were particularly high during 1853. This was to a considerable extent influenced by the failure of supplies from Sydney, caused by the neglect of agriculture through the goldfields being worked both there and in Victoria drawing away the agricultural labour and also requiring extra supplies. The communication with Australia was almost confined to Sydney, with which Mr. John Jones' vessel, the Scotia, was constantly trading, but at best she was small and marie very long voyages. The supplies were principally confined to the suburban lands and the sides of the harbour. The last was done by boats, and almost every settler had to have one. The only way to reach the Peninsula with animals was to go round by the For bury and the sandhills. The way to reach Dunedin was by a footpath across the swamp, with small bridges on the creeks. There was a further reason in several ships coming from Melbourne, looking for supplies — of oats especially, and anything else they could find. This enabled many of our settlers to realise money for their produce, which assisted them very much. This was not confined to any particular class. The farmers of that day, in many cases, were just the labourers who had, at considerable cost and perseverance, acquired a few acres of land, which they cultivated with great care — often by working early before going to other work and late at night after their return. In Dunedin, in many cases, the tradesmen and others grew their own potatoes and vegetables, and numbers kept cows on the large unoccupied portion of the town and Town Belt, and supplied themselves with milk and butter. There were few actual employers of labour. Parties did their best to find means of employing themselves, by cutting timber, fencing, or firewood, or splitting shingles, palings, &c, and bringing them to market. Neighbours often assisted each other or exchanged labour. The money passing from hand to hand was very small indeed, but there was no failing in doing what they could when a proper object, either of charity or benevolence, or public duty required it. There was a tone of pleasant cheerfulness and contentment pervading the community, with very few exceptions, and grumblers received very little sympathy or attention. There was, from an early period, a peculiar feature in the settlement which may be described as almost an unlimited faith in each other. There was scarcely a person who could not go to any store and get whatever supplies he required, without any question as to when they would be paid for, it being well understood that the first money — produce or other means of payment — would be used for that purpose.

[The 1857 cottage was the first building erected at Kldeilee, Tokomairiro— the residence of Mr. J. Elder Brown— and was one of the first erected on the plain under the new tei ms of Purchase, 1856. The portion with clay walls and thatched roof, containing four rooms, was erected in January, 1857, an d the portion in wood was erected in 1864. The photograph shows Mr. George Blown (the father) and IVli.s. Brown 111 the foregound ; Mrs 1 , .icott (a daughter) and Mr. Mark Scott (her husband), holding a baby in his arms, neai the window; Alexandei Brown (the youngest son) is holding a pan of veiy valuable plough bullocks at the .side of the house. In the distance are seen Mr. McG ill's flour and oatmeal nulls. The hills beyond are known as the Mount Misery Range. At the end of the house will be seen the steel mill used by settleis beloie Hour mills weie available. Photograph No. 2 speaks foi itself.]

So well was this carried out, that Mr. John Jones used to .say that he kept a public store for over seven years without losing a £5 note. Industry and thrift were the prevailing features. Rude comfort and content were to be found under circumstances that many of the present day would think it impossible to put up with —but, however poor the dwelling or plain the surroundings, the best they had was always set before the stranger or anyone calling at their dwellings. The manners and customs were extremely simple and homely. There were few tailors' or milliners' bills. A blouse, moleskin or cord trousers, strong boots, and felt hat were dress for church or market, and were given up by many of our people with regret after being in the way of using them for years. With the advent of the Provincial Council there was a little money to spend, especially on roads, and thus a stimulus was given to industry. A number of persons had arrived in small parties by the various ships, many of whom turned out good settlers. With the increase of people, stock, and horses, the plough, which had only been used on patches of open land, wa-3 brought into use, and as there was a strong desire to settle in the country districts by many parties, and considerable delay in getting terms of land purchase through the House of Representatives being so inaccessible at Auckland, the Provincial Council, in March, 1855, resolved to put the parties who desired it in possession of land on their paying a deposit of 10s. per acre, and signing a guarantee to accept the terms that might be fixed. This at once caused activity, and when the Regulations for the Sale, Letting, and Disposal of Waste Lands came into operation, on Ist April, 185(i. at 10s. per acre, with £2 per acre to be expended on improvements within four years before a Crown title could be obtained, the province might be s,iid to be fairly launched into a state of prosperity